Wattles Mansion Restoration and Getty Grant Move Forward

The 1907 Wattles Mansion and formal gardens are looking better than they have in decades. Since January, over $20,000 has been spent on repairs and restoration of the house and grounds.

Tree and rose trimmings have brought the gardens much closer to their proper appearance. The trees had not been given a full pruning since the 1970s, and those in both the garden and front yard were trimmed (some on the hillside that had died were removed). Sixteen full-sized trees were brought under control, opening up the original scenic vistas and allowing sunshine to reach areas where ground cover would not survive. The original 1907 rose vine over the western pergola is now blooming for the first time since Hollywood Heritage has been there (1983). This activity has also cleared much of the overgrowth to avoid potential hillside fire hazards.

The Garden Committee, led by board member Anne Epstein, has patiently trimmed back the antique rose bushes to their proper size and shape. Their work will continue throughout the year on other parts of the garden, as the article on the committee’s activities outlines. Volunteers are always welcome.

Plumbing repairs have been made throughout the property to stop leaks and conserve water. Plaster repairs to the interior of the back porch room and stairs, upstairs bathroom and storage rooms, as well as painting the exterior wrought iron "balconies" have been made, courtesy of board member Fran Offenhauser. She donated funds to have the repairs and repainting done.

The exterior stucco cracks, scattered all around the house, and the improper patches done during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, have been repaired or redone. Two larger drainage leaks revealed that the interior drainpipes had completely corroded away and water merely leaked from the roof into the stucco columns. The drains and the required wall incisions will be completed as more funds become available.

These exterior repairs were made by Doug Turner and Amy Higgins, who did the Schwabs Men’s Store Building restoration, with the same attention to detail. Matching the stucco texture was a time consuming task as several slightly different styles are used on the house. Using 3 to 4 different layers of application finally produced the proper matches, which explains why so few people will even attempt this type of work today.

The Getty Grant for the historic survey and report on the property is moving ahead under the direction of board member Natalie Shivers. It will outline future work needed to restore the property and landscaping as we continue to bring the mansion and garden back to its 1920s splendor.

A special thanks to longtime Wattles manager, Steve Sylvester, who is directing the repairs and garden work. This work has been made possible by Steve’s effective management of the property, which has resulted in a record number of event bookings in the year 2000. These bookings are the source of funding for Wattles’ repairs, restoration, and maintenance (a never-ending expense). Steve’s success for this year will lead to more restorations in the Fall.